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We knew the presence of former governor Mark Sanford would make the special primary in South Carolina’s 1st congressional district, well, special. But this ad from media scion Teddy Turner is a truly nasty work of art:

Note the fine displacement here: there’s no explicit mention of Sanford’s extracurricular activities as governor; indeed, it’s all related to “politicians” spending “a few trillion” (not exactly a charge that can be credibly levied at Sanford, who can starve grannies with the best of them). But there’s zero question what the ad is about, complete with the not-so-subtle suggestion voters are like Sanford’s cheated-upon wife.

It doesn’t quite rank up there (or down there) with the famous “Boogie Nights Ad” that helped sink the Senate candidacy of Mike Taylor in Montana in 2002:

But Turner’s got a lot of money. Team Sanford has to be shuddering at what may come next.

Ed Kilgore
is a contributing writer to the Washington Monthly. He is managing editor for The Democratic Strategist and a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute. Find him on Twitter: @ed_kilgore.

Comments

indeed, it’s all related to “politicians” spending “a few trillion” (not exactly a charge that can be credibly levied at Sanford, who can starve grannies with the best of them)

I am going to guess that the econ teacher is an Austrian or something like that.

I don't feel bad for granny-starver Sanford, but I don't see any good reason for anybody to care about his Argentinean connections. Certainly Chilean connections are not frowned upon by Republicans. Or some kinds of economic teachers.

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